The Ministry of Finance on 12th October 2021 has published the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2021 to further amend the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019.
Through this amendment, the ministry has permitted 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route in the telecom services sector subject to certain conditions.
“All telecom services including Telecom Infrastructure Providers Category-I, viz. Basic, Cellular, United Access Services, Unified license (Access services), Unified License, National/International Long Distance, Commercial V-Sat, Public Mobile Radio Trunked Services (PMRTS), Global Mobile Personal Communications Services (GMPCS), all types of ISP licenses, Voice Mail/Audiotex/UMS, Resale of IPLC, Mobile Number Portability services, Infrastructure Provider Category-I (providing dark fibre, right of way, duct space, tower), Other Service Providers and such other services as may be permitted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).”
Further, the licensing, security and any other terms and conditions as notified by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) from time to time, shall be observed by licensee/entities providing the above services.
